Lord Hodgson

Lord Hodgson has had a wide-ranging business and political career. He currently chairs RFIB Group and Nova Capital Management and is the former Chairman and founder of Granville Baird Group Limited, and until recently was Senior Independent Director of Marstons PLC, the quoted brewery and pub group.

From 1976-9 Lord Hodgson was Member of Parliament for Walsall North. He then worked for the Conservative Party in a voluntary capacity, becoming Deputy Chairman 1996-2000. In 2000, he was made a Life Peer. Lord Hodgson has also served as Conservative Front Bench spokesman on Trade and Industry and Home Affairs 2002-2006 – leading on the Charities Act 2006 and Companies Act 2006.

His charitable activities include Chairman of The Armed Forces Charities Advisory Company and President of National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO).

In 2011, Lord Hodgson was chosen as the Official Reviewer of the Charities Act 2006 and in 2012 laid his report before Parliament, entitled “Trusted and Independent: Giving charity back to charities.” He also recently chaired a Task Force which produced the “Unshackling Good Neighbours” Report which made recommendations to reduce the regulatory and other burdens which are impeding the growth of the charity and voluntary sector.